Hull of vessels



(No Model.)

R. H. TUCKER.

HULL 0F VESSELS.

Patented Dec. 11, 1888.

0/ y, mm I I!" I I -UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD II. TUCKER, OF \VIMASSET, MAINE.

HULL OF VESSELS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 394,416, dated December 11, 1888.

Application filed August 13, 1888.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, RICHARD II. TUCKER, of iscasset, in the county of Lincoln and State of Maine, have invented a new and use- .ful Improvement in ater-Craft; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to water-craft. It is designed principally for vessels of that class which are used as barges and towed from place to place; but the principle and construction are not necessarily confined to vessels of that class, but may be used as sailing-vessels or may be driven by compressed air.

The objects had in view by me in this invention are, first, to provide a construction which will oppose the least possible resistance to the water; second, to adapt the form to economy in the building; third, to provide a form which may be towed as a barge more conveniently by reason of its adaptation to follow directly in the line of the draft; fifth, to provide at the same time a form adapted to be driven effectively by compressed air according to the principles explained in my aforesaid patent; sixth, to secure increased strength and buoyancy in the hull.

The invention is explained in the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 shows a perspective view; Fig. 2, a side elevation; Fig. 3, a side elevation, partly in section; Fig. 4, an end view.

In the drawings I have shown the hull in side and plan view as formed of wedge-shaped parts both forward and aft, so that the hull both upon. the side and deck represents in figure two isosceles triangles placed base to base. Referring to the side elevation, the main part of the vessel is seen to have the greatestdepth on the line (L I), placed vertically at the center, and from the extremities of this line the hull slopes equally above and below to the bow and stern until the upper and lower lines meet at an edge and form a sharp horizontal bow and stern, which is capable of submergence to any point which the buoyancy will permit of, as the upper and lower surfaces are equally adapted to be opposed to the resistance of the water. Upon or with this wedge-shaped structure is built another, a c (I e. (Shown in the perspective view.) This consists also in its outline of two Serial No. 282,581. (No model.)

isosceles triangles placed base to base at the center of the hull. These are preferably of the same length as the horizontal wedgeshaped structure heretofore described. The

upper surface of this structure may be straight or curved, and may be used for the deck of the craft. The stem and stern are vertical and the sides slope equally back to the center, which is the widest part and of the same width as the horizontal wedge-shaped structure. I have described the structure as built 011 straight lines. This is preferable both for cheapness of construction and strength and minimum of resistance; but I do not limit myself to this form, as the lines may be curved without departing from the spirit of my invention.

It will thus beseen that the hull of the vessel is formed of two double wedge-shaped structures with their axes at right angles to each other, except that thevertical]y-arranged wedge is placed only on the upper part, the lower surface sloping from the horizontal line upward in bot l1 directions. Upon this plain bottom I place the keels f, of which Ihave shown live; but the number is not essential. The outer keel is shown in line with the vertical sides of the hull. One keel is placed in the center, two others intermediate between the center and the side keels, all being placed parallel to each other. The keels extend from the center to the stern and from the center forward about one-third of the way to the bow, so that the under surface of the craft at the bow for about two-thirds of the distance toward the center of the craft is plain and without k eels. This I have found to be very beneficial for towing. The outside keels, or all the keels except the center keel, may slope upward, as shown in the side elevation, for the purpose of facilitating the movement of the craft in towing. The obtuse ridge formed on the bottom at the junction of the two inclined planes from stem to stern is advantageous in the use of compressed-air propulsion, which, as I have found by experiment, can be advantageously used for the propulsion of crafts of this general nature. For this purpose I have placed the air-pipes D with their openings between the keels above the ridge E across the bottom. As the water yields in the direction of least resistance, the

air will force it toward the stern and upward along the slope, and the openings of the pipe D may be placed in this construction nearer to the center of the hull, and thus a longer channel and greater depth for the action of the compressed air can be secured.

WVhether the craft is used for towing or to be propelled by the air-blast, the construction described of the bottom, consisting in the sloping both ways of the transverse sharp ridge, is efficient, as is also the construction and arrangement of the keels. The construction, however, I deem of most importance for use in barges, in which now a large part of the coast-carrying trade of coal is done. At present old sailing-vessels, from five hundred'to two thousand tons, are used for this purpose, and these must soon be worn out, and the construction hereinbefore described is designed to take their place, which it may do with great advantage, as it may be towed without steering, and therefore at less expense.

WVhere my construction is designed to be used for sailing vessels or to be propelled by compressed air, I have devised a life-saving raft, which, though not necessarily confined to this kind of hull, may be advantageously used therewith. This is shown at F. It is formed with curved sides sharp at bow and stern. The sides are vertical, and it is let down into the deck, in which it rests by its own gravity, or it may be temporarily fastened to the deck, but so as to be detached in case of sinking of the ship. It is formed with a tight bottom and sides and may contain provisions, and is also provided with space for all the persons on board the ship, so that in case of the sinking of the ship the left raft will floatoff. By this means all the persons on board may escape with sufficient supplies to enable them to survive until rescued.

The upper part of the ship heretofore described, consisting of the vertical wedge- 1. A hull having a horizontal deck formed wedge shape from center to ends, with sloping parts on each side of the deck inclining from the center to the ends, substantially as described.

- 2. In combination with the hull having its bottom, sloping upward from the center toward the bow and stern, the keels extending from the stern and terminating at a point between the center and the bow, substantially as described.

3. In combination with the craft having the bottom sloping from the central line upward to stern and bow and provided with keels, an air-pipe having its entrance between two keels at a point aft the central and deepest portion.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

RICHARD H. TUCKER.

\Vitnesses:

JEHIEL BAKER, TM. H. BEETLE. 

